400 seventh-graders recognized in Duke TIP ceremony at WKU

The group of about 400 students that congregated at WKU on Friday (May 25) had three things in common: their college-ready ACT or SAT scores; their seventh-grade standing in school; and the incredible potential that combination creates.

The accomplished middle schoolers visited WKU to attend the Kentucky Recognition Ceremony for the Duke Talent Identification Program hosted by The Center for Gifted Studies. The event at Diddle Arena honored students for scoring at or above the average for college-bound seniors on one or more sections of the ACT or SAT this year.

In Kentucky, 2,909 seventh-graders — who initially scored in the 95th percentile on a grade-level achievement test — took the above-level assessments. More than 1,400 then qualified to be honored at the Kentucky Recognition Ceremony. Additionally, 152 were invited to the Grand Recognition Ceremony on Duke University’s campus, celebrating those who earned scores equal to or better than 90 percent of college-bound seniors on the ACT or SAT.

Nationally, more than 77,000 seventh-graders tested, and 25,328 were invited to attend a state recognition event.

Dr. Julia Roberts, executive director of The Center for Gifted Studies, noted that the ceremonies provide inspiration and encouragement for gifted young students, who need the help of educators and decision makers to continue on their current trajectories.

“Duke TIP recognizes the exceptional academic performance of seventh-graders,” she said. “This day is a wonderful celebration of high potential that must be followed up with appropriately challenging learning opportunities to develop that potential to the fullest.”

Potential was “the key word of the day,” Kentucky Rep. Carl Rollins (D-Woodford County), chair of the House Education Committee, noted in his remarks to students. He and Kentucky Department of Education Consultant for Gifted and Talented Education Kathie Anderson congratulated students on their achievements thus far but urged them to continuing setting high goals.

“I want you to understand this is the beginning,” Rollins said.

WKU President Gary Ransdell, who provided the keynote address for the ceremony, noted that the entire Commonwealth is counting on these bright seventh-graders to lead the state into an intellectually and economically prosperous future.

The Center for Gifted Studies, the Honors College at WKU and the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky — which Newsweek recently named the nation’s top high school — are excited and ready to assist the seventh-graders along the way, he said.

“Shoot for big dreams,” Dr. Ransdell said. “Be bold. Be aggressive. Reach for your dreams, and know that there are things we can do in Kentucky to help you achieve those dreams.”

The students rounded out the day taking a closer look at those ambitions by touring WKU’s campus and the Gatton Academy.

Dr. Ransdell said he hoped the experience invigorated students as they soon set their sights on high school, then college.

“You’ve already begun to set yourself apart from other students in your area school, and don’t let that be something that ever causes you to be shy or timid or anything other than completely confident in your abilities,” he said. “You are beginning to rise.”

More: Eligible students (Excel file); eligible students list (Word file)

Photos: Photos from the ceremony are available on the WKU Facebook page.

Contact: Mandy Simpson, (270) 745-6323.

View from the Hill – USDA/ARS Greenhouse Opens

A national research lab located at WKU’s farm is now complete after a long awaited greenhouse opened a few weeks ago.   In this week’s View from the Hill, you’ll see the  environmental impact of  research being done on soil, air and water.

2 WKU graduates awarded Fulbright grants to study abroad

For the sixth year in a row, WKU students have been awarded Fulbright grants to spend a year studying and working abroad. May 2012 graduates Mario Nguyen and Alyssa Surina are the latest recipients.

Mario Nguyen
(WKU photo by Clinton Lewis)

Nguyen, the son of Patty Nguyen, is a public relations major from Dallas, Texas. He has been awarded the Fulbright-Garcías Robles Binational Business Grant to Mexico, which is a specialized grant that places recipients in internships with Mexican businesses or non-governmental organizations while enrolling them in MBA programs at a local university. The program offers grantees full support including travel to and from Mexico, university tuition, and a monthly stipend to cover living expenses.

This will be Nguyen’s first time abroad, but he considers it to be a natural extension of his experience at WKU.

“WKU emphasizes its ‘International Reach,’ and the Fulbright program really takes that mantra to a new level,” he said. “Last semester I took a course on Cultural Communication where we were given the opportunity to interact with international students from all over the world. I will now use these skills in international networking as I move forward with the Fulbright, forever building a network of colleagues from around the globe.”

Nguyen expects his Fulbright year will give him valuable international business experience, which is ideal for meeting his goal of becoming an attorney who helps businesses relocate internationally or serves on tribunals resolving international disputes.

“Over the next year, I really hope to learn more than I ever have before. I want to immerse myself in Mexican culture, perfect my competency in Spanish, and make a difference in the relations between Mexico and the U.S. in whatever capacity I am placed in,” he said.

Fulbright candidates spend several weeks and sometimes several months collecting application materials and drafting and revising their essays with Dr. Melinda Grimsley-Smith, who serves as WKU’s Fulbright Program advisor in the Office of Scholar Development. The hard work can be a valuable learning process, as Nguyen discovered.

“My application process was a learning experience. There were times I got frustrated, but for the most part I was excited and continually found moments of clarity for my future aspirations. With every step through the process, I found out more and more about what I want out of life,” he said.

“We often tell students that writing is thinking on paper, and that they get as much out of the writing process as they put in,” Grimsley-Smith said. “Mario is a perfect example of this. He might have been frustrated from time to time, but he stayed focused on his end goal. We could not be more pleased nor proud of him.”

Alyssa Surina
(Photo by Jen McDonald)

Surina is a Math and Economics double-major from Santa Clarita, Calif. She has been awarded a Fulbright Research Grant to study mathematics education in Xi’an, China. Surina is a member of the WKU Chinese Flagship Program and has studied in China three times while a WKU student. She will continue her language education at CET Harbin in China this summer.

“At WKU, I was given unique opportunities to study in China, and to tailor my classes to develop the analytical skills necessary to understand the global economy,” Surina said. “The Fulbright will be a continuation of the research preparation and international focus I cultivated at WKU.”

Surina’s research examines how the Chinese education system influences teacher and student motivation. She plans to spend four months studying math pedagogy and working with researchers in an experimental education lab in Xi’an. Afterward, she will spend six months observing elementary school math teachers in the classroom. The goal of her project is to create a professional development seminar for teacher networks in the United States geared towards improving math education.

“While I am certainly not the first American to study China’s education system, I believe that my background in economics and institutional change will give me a more accessible and actionable perspective on why students in China continue to outperform students in the West on standardized math tests,” she said.

Like Nguyen, Surina found the application process sometimes difficult but enlightening.

“Applying for the Fulbright helped me learn how to better communicate my research goals and strategies. It’s certainly a long application process, but you learn a lot about yourself through it,” she said.

After her Fulbright year, Surina plans to enroll in a graduate program in international economic development. She will build on the research experience and insight into how institutions affect performance she gains in China, and hopes to work with the World Bank in the future, helping develop solutions for the alleviation of poverty.

About the Office of Scholar Development: The Office of Scholar Development is committed to helping WKU students in all majors and degree programs develop the vision, experience and skills to be independent, engaged scholars. OSD welcomes the opportunity to work with students interested in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program or other similar opportunities.

Contact: Dr. Melinda Grimsley-Smith, (270) 745-5043.

Group visits swine operation for look at WKU-USDA animal waste research

About 50 soil scientists visited the Daviess County farm of swine producer Jerry O’Bryan (a 1974 WKU graduate) who is part of a collaborative research project between WKU and the USDA Agricultural Research Service Animal Waste Management Unit. ARS is working to determine on-farm management and land application practices for sustainable management of swine compost. The project is one of several under way at the ARS national laboratory near the WKU Farm. The May 23 field trip to one of the state’s largest swine operations was part of the weeklong National Cooperative Soil Survey’s Southern Regional conference, which is being held in Bowling Green. O’Bryan’s farm is one of the first to employ under slat composting of swine manures. The under slat barns yield swine compost, a stabilized product which reduces the volume of waste, kills pathogens, reduces odors and improves the cycling of nutrients. The compost can be used on the farm to improve soil quality and reduce the need to bring additional nutrients on to the farm or it can be sold as a value-added product. Darwin Newton, public relations coordinator for WKU’s Ogden College of Science and Engineering, said the trip to O’Bryan’s swine facilities gave the soil scientists an opportunity to see cutting-edge technology and learn more about how the WKU-USDA ARS researchers are working with producers to address waste management issues. “We look at animal waste management as being a very important part of nutrient source for crops, such as what Jerry has shown us on his farm today with corn, soybeans and wheat,” Newton said. (WKU photos by Clinton Lewis)

Honors College, WBKO-TV recognize Scholar of the Week recipients

The Honors College at WKU and WBKO-TV hosted a reception on May 1 to honor this semester’s Scholar of the Week recipients.  The Scholar of the Week program recognizes young scholars for their achievements.

Nancy ‘Kate’ Miller (center) was honored May 1 as the spring 2012 Scholar of the Week Scholarship Winner. The award was presented by Dr. Craig T. Cobane (left), Executive Director of the Honors College at WKU, and Brad Odil, VP Sales and Station Manager at WBKO. (WKU photo by Bryan Lemon)

The high school name and photos of the students who are chosen for the Scholar of the Week program appear on WBKO’s Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning news shows. Each student is invited to a reception to celebrate their achievements, and a $1,000 scholarship for the Honors College is awarded.

Nancy ‘Kate’ Miller, a senior from Greenwood High School, was the recipient of the spring 2012 Scholar of the Week scholarship.

“I think Scholar of the Week is a great way to show off talent from surrounding counties,” Miller said. “It’s a great opportunity at a scholarship as well.”

During the reception and prior to announcing the scholarship winner, Dr. Craig T. Cobane, Executive Director of the Honors College at WKU, asked the students if any of them had a feeling they were about to be named as the scholarship winner.

“I remember thinking to myself, ‘It’s probably not me.’ Then, my name was called!” Miller said. “I was very surprised and excited! This scholarship will be very helpful to me this coming year.”

Angela Gage, guidance counselor at South Warren High School, assisted her students with the Scholar of the Week application process and attended this semester’s Scholar of the Week reception.

“Scholar of the Week is a great opportunity to recognize not only seniors who have accomplished accolades in academics and extra-curricular activities, but juniors as well. It’s nice to see such positive recognition of students throughout the viewing area who excel in academics,” Gage said. “I was impressed with the reception for these young people and an opportunity to give them insight into what amazing types of opportunities lie ahead of them as they step toward their post secondary education.”

The following students were recognized as Scholars of the Week for the 2011-2012 academic year:

• Allen County-Scottsville High School: Shelby Blankenship
• Barren County High School: Allison Key, Ashley Steenbergen
• Barren County Magnet High School: Alana Alexander
• Bowling Green High School: Ethan Baker, Elizabeth Brand, Katie Cohron, Diana Gazaryan, Sydney Jackson, Amy Kovanda, Jacob Malmquist, Alexandra Oldham, Patric Peters, Lydia Suh, Megan Taing, Nina Wells
• Central Hardin High School: Natalie Smith
• Clinton County High School: William Cox, James England, Kiley Hoppe, James Staton IV
• Edmonson County High School: Brooke Duke, Megan Skaggs
• Glasgow Christian Academy: Caleb Shaw
• Glasgow High School: Blair Dennison, Natalie Shields, Autumn Smith
• Greenwood High School: Callie Allison, Kevin Belt, Mallory Clouse, Katie Daniel, Megan French, Laken Greene, Shelby Hilbert, Max Livchak, Nancy ‘Kate’ Miller, Riley Miller, Ethan Shutt, Joseph Stuckey, Alex Wade, Alex Young.
• Hart County High School: Aaron Shephard
• Logan County High School: Joseph Faulkner, Barrett Rogers
• Metcalfe County High School: Kristen Compton, Chandler Staggs
• Monroe County High School: Tanner Elrod, Meredith Thompson
• Muhlenberg County High School: Kirsten Hunt, Kara Drake, Ryan Tuohy
• Ohio County High School: Logan Baumann, Darian Tichenor
• Russell County High School: Jacob Phelps
• Russellville High School: Caleb Wills
• South Warren High School: Leslie Hutcheson, Natalie Perkins, Jordan Upton, Kenny Wilson
• Warren Central High School: Sayrah Jones, Diane Ramic
• Warren East High School: Molly Greer

About the Honors College at WKU: WKU is home to the only Honors College in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Created in 2007, the Honors College at WKU provides an intimate, highly selective learning environment where college-age gifted and high-achieving students can develop the skills to prepare them for success in the nation’s top academic and career opportunities.

Contact: Eileen Ryan, (270) 745-2081.

Hoffman Institute joins WKU-Habitat for Humanity Durbin Project

The Hoffman Environmental Research Institute is the newest partner to join the WKU-Habitat for Humanity Durbin Project.

This project will develop an integrated green infrastructure, green building, mixed-income, mixed-use neighborhood on a 14.3-acre site owned by the Bowling Green-Warren County Habitat for Humanity as a statewide demonstration.

Initial funding for the Durbin Project was awarded by the Kentucky Division of Water through a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. The grant is administered by the WKU Center for Environmental Education and Sustainability, which has the mission to work with a broad set of stakeholders to provide resources and leadership to advance education for a sustainable future through educational programs, professional development, community service, and research.

A key goal for the project is providing community education and professional training on stormwater management and nonpoint source pollution reduction in a karst environment. Much of Bowling Green and Warren County is situated on a karst plain that has special requirements for groundwater protection.

The Hoffman Institute will develop educational signage that will be posted along walking trails and around the community to explain the low impact development (LID) features of the site and how they benefit stormwater management and water quality in a karst environment. Demonstrated LID techniques will include: drainage channel modifications to a more natural meandering configuration that slows and pre-filters stormwater entering the site; primary use of native plants, edible plants, and increased tree cover that absorb and filter water and reduce irrigation needs; trash collection and sedimentation mechanisms designed to improve water quality; a bio-retention basin that pre-treats water and removes pollutants before water enters the water table; use of bioswales, rain gardens, rain barrels, and underground cisterns that slow, pre-treat, and capture rainwater for reuse; and use of pervious pavers that reduce and slow runoff. The Hoffman Institute is a part of the Department of Geology and Geography at WKU.

The Durbin site also will be used as a learning laboratory for area schools, being located just across the street from the former LC Curry Elementary School on Glen Lily Road. Plans are underway to rebuild the school as a high performance school that reduces energy use, water use and costs, with expected completion in August 2014.

“We are proud to be a partner on this project that will benefit our students, families, and the community,” said Vicki Writsel, assistant superintendent of Bowling Green Independent Schools and an Advisory Council member for the Durbin Project.

Personnel at the Bowling Green Independent Schools will translate the text of the signs into multiple languages, to reflect the primary languages of students in the school system and other local community members. The translations, along with supplemental information on LID techniques and learning activities, will be accessible by QR codes on the signs that direct people to associated websites.

The Hoffman Institute team brings extensive experience in researching and addressing local and international water resource issues in karst environments to the project. They also work with communities through student engagement projects and develop learning materials through informal education research.

“We are very excited to be a part of this project,” said Dr. Leslie North, the Hoffman Institute’s associate director of education. “It is a perfect example of how diverse groups within the community can work together to provide a site for living, learning, and community engagement regarding crucial issues like water resource protection and sustainable development.”

“A growing mix of partners have come together on this project, reaching across the university, local businesses, schools, and government; these partnerships are transformational and vital to the project’s success,” said Nancy Givens, principal investigator for the project and program coordinator for the Center for Environmental Education and Sustainability at WKU.

Other key partners on the project include WKU departments including Planning, Design and Construction, and Landscaping; WKYU-PBS, which will do a public documentary on the project; Kentucky Habitat for Humanity; the Public Works Department of the City of Bowling Green; Arnold Consulting, Engineering, and Surveying, Inc.; Service One Credit Union; the Green River-Tradewater Basin Team; Roundstone Native Seed, LLC; and Bluegrass PRIDE.

Contact: Nancy Givens, (270) 745-2842.

10th annual Alumni College June 7-10

WKU’s Alumni Association will host its 10th annual Alumni College June 7-10.

The Alumni College is an annual lifelong learning program for alumni and friends of WKU.

“Alumni College is a wonderful program that allows alumni and friends the opportunity to reconnect with WKU beyond the typical alumni experience,” said Ginny Hensley, director of Alumni Programming. “Staying on campus in Southwest Hall for a long weekend and taking entertaining, yet educational classes allows participants the opportunity to experience life at WKU today without the stress of final exams.

“Over the past decade, we have seen college friends reconnect, alumni bring their grandchildren to experience life on a college campus, and spouses enjoy a weekend getaway, all while learning how WKU students live today,” she said.

This year’s classes include a campus tour to discuss blending new construction with WKU’s historic landscape; a visit to the advanced manufacturing and robotics lab; a tour of the Confucius Institute and Chinese Learning Center; a tour of the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center; a visit to the WKU Farm; a dancing lesson by Donna Hey; a history of beer with Dr. Andrew McMichael; a geography of wine with Dr. Katie Algeo; a lesson on the horse industry with Jack Smith, president of Jack Smith Thoroughbreds; a look at WKU’s Study Away program with Jerry Barnaby; a quilt making workshop; and an inside look at political campaigns with media consultant John Rowley.

Participants also will take a hard hat tour of the Augenstein Alumni Center, which is under construction, and will have an opportunity to jump out of an airplane at Skydive Kentucky in Elizabethtown.

Contact: WKU Alumni Association, 888-958-2586; or Ginny Hensley, (270) 745-4395.